Building structure utilizing modular building elements

ABSTRACT

A building structure formed from modular building elements, which include first modular building elements ( 1,9 ) having socket beam interconnection means ( 2 ), second modular building elements ( 13,14,15 ) and socket beams ( 7, 11 ) having first modular building element interconnection means ( 6 ); whereby a socket beam ( 7,11 ) forms an interconnection with at least one first modular building element ( 1,9 ) and at least one second modular building element ( 13, 14, 15 ) associates with a socket beam ( 7,11 ) and first modular building element interconnection, a socket beam ( 7,11 ) and at least one first modular building element ( 1,9 ) and at least one second modular building element ( 13,14,15 ) forming a configuration unit, the configuration unit being repeatable one atop the other, and being repeatable in a side-by-side fashion, a first modular building element associating or abutting with adjacent first modular building elements, a second modular building elements associating or abutting with adjacent second modular building elements and a socket beam associating or abutting with adjacent socket beams.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a new type of building structure, andin particular, to a building structure which is constructed fromdiscrete modular building elements thereby facilitating a variety ofconfigurations or designs of building structure.

BACKGROUND ART

Currently, many building structures are constructed using a large numberof small individual components. This practice requires significant time,effort and skill to bring to completion even a comparatively minorbuilding structure such as a house. In attempting to overcome this andother drawbacks, building structures utilising modular buildingcomponents have been devised and are known. However, many of theseprefabricated or modular components have simply transferred the time,effort and skill from the building location to a factory location.Transporting prefabricated or modular components from a factory locationto a building location results in an additional cost to the overallexpense of erecting the building structure, which may only provecommercially viable for kit homes.

Furthermore, simply transferring the manufacture or construction ofprefabricated or modular components to a building site may significantlyreduce the cost of building structures below that which is incurred bymanufacturing prefabricated or modular components in a factory. However,the components must be capable of being satisfactorily manufactured atthe building site where limited facilities are available.

Many various types of building structures utilising modular componentsor elements have been proposed. Due to the complexity and variationassociated with constructing a building structure none of these previoussystems overcome all of the problems associated with erecting a buildingstructure.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3950902 discloses a concrete structureconstructed from a single basic, monolithic pre-cast modular concretebeam. Each beam is an elongated concrete member having a generallyrectangular cross-section, and having a central aperture extendingthrough the length of said beam. However, these concrete structures arelimited to relatively small buildings, for example houses, where arelatively high structural integrity is not required. Hence, the modularconcrete beam may be comparatively small in dimensions.

U.S. Pat. No. 5072554 discloses a prefabricated modular buildingstructure which is constructed of a plurality of panels. Vertical panelsare interlocked by sliding a built in flange on each panel into a builtin channel member on an adjacent panel. The specification is directedtowards a single layer of vertical panels only, and foundations are notutilised due to the modular storage building being of a relatively smallsize. Therefore, this invention is still limited in its scope ofovercoming the problems associated with modular building structures.

The problems associated with providing a flexible and stable modularbuilding structure are complex, this is attested to by the fact thatalthough a significant effort has been made to solve the problems, themodular or prefabricated building industries have only captured andextremely small percentage of the housing market, perhaps as little as8%, after many decades. The complexities present can impose a heightrestriction on many forms of modular building structures.

This identifies a need for an improved type of modular buildingstructure which overcomes the problems inherent in the prior art

The present invention seeks to provide an improved modular buildingstructure which includes only a limited number of basic modular elementswhich can be used for foundations, walls, floors, ceilings, etc., thatcan be mass produced on-site or at a factory if desired, but does notrequire the construction of specialised or expensive factories.

Furthermore the present invention seeks to provide, inter alia: modularelements which can be used to construct a wide variety of plans ordesigns of building structures and meet a wide range of structuralrequirements; which may also be reinforced to resist any dynamic force;that his fire proof, rock proof and vermin proof; that can be producedfrom a few locally available materials; that can be lifted and handledby available inexpensive mobile machinery; and may be put together in asimple manner, which may utilise relatively unskilled labour.

Accordingly, the present invention seeks to provide these and otherfeatures providing an improved and flexible building structure which isconstructed from discrete modular building elements.

It should be noted that in this specification reference to the term‘building structure’ is a reference to a real and effective buildingstructure, that is a full-scale building structure. The term ‘buildingstructure’ is not intended to include within its scope a toy, miniatureor model building.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention according to one aspect seeks to provide abuilding structure formed from modular building elements, wherein thebuilding structure includes:

first modular building elements provided with protrusions forinterconnection with at least one socket beam; and

second modular building elements; and

socket beams provided with at least two holes, slots or recesses forreceiving protrusions from first modular building elements, the holes,slots or recesses located near or at the mid-section of a surface of asocket beam; and

whereby a socket beam forms an interconnection with at least two firstmodular building elements, the first modular building elements beingheld laterally abutted to each other as a result of the mutualinterconnection of respective protrusions with holes, slots or recessesof the socket beam, and, at least one second modular building elementassociates with the socket beam and first modular building elementinterconnection; such that,

a socket beam and at least two first modular building elements and atleast one second modular building element form a configuration unit, theconfiguration unit able to engage or abut other adjacent configurationunits in a side by side fashion such that the second modular buildingelements define a substantially planar surface, and whereby firstmodular building elements abut adjacent first modular building elements,second modular building elements abut adjacent second modular buildingelements and a socket beam abuts adjacent socket beams.

In another preferred form of the invention it is sought to provide abuilding structure wherein a second modular building element has atleast one edge supported by a portion of the socket beam with which itassociates. In a particular embodiment the configuration unit is able toengage or abut other adjacent configuration units in a one atop theother fashion to provide a multi-storey building structure. The presentinvention according to another aspect seeks to provide a foundationstructure is provided and at least one of the components of the buildingstructure associates with the foundation structure. The presentinvention according to yet another aspect seeks to provide a foundationsupport socket beam associates with the foundation structure, thefoundation support socket beam able to interconnect with a foundationfirst modular building element, and at least one socket beam able tointerconnect with the foundation first modular building element. Thereis also sought to be provided a foundation second modular buildingelement associates with the foundation structure, the foundation secondmodular building element able to receive at least one first modularbuilding element.

In a preferred form, a first modular building element is a wall panel,and a second modular building element is a floor panel or a ceilingpanel. Also preferably, the socket beam has a substantially flat uppersurface, part of which assists to support the second modular buildingelements, and a lower surface provided with a central recess, inaddition to the at least two holes, slots or recesses for receivingprotrusions from first modular building elements, into which part of alower first modular building element can be inserted. In a furtherpreferred form, at least one edge of a first modular building elementhas off-centre protrusions, and an adjacent first modular buildingelement also has off-centre protrusions so that when the first modularbuilding elements are side-by-side the abutting off-centre protrusionsform a combined protrusion, and at least one side of a socket beam has ahole, slot or recess to receive said combined protrusion of the firstmodular building elements.

According to another aspect of the present invention at least one edgeof a second modular building element has a protrusion or protrusionswhereby an angled joint is formed by the protrusion of the secondmodular building element and a protrusion of a first modular buildingelement, and the protrusion of the second: modular building element sitsintermediate the first modular building element and the socket beam.Also, the angle of the angular joint may be substantially perpendicular.Furthermore, the edges of the protrusion or protrusions may be angled,bevelled, sloped or inclined. Still furthermore, the internal edges ofthe socket beam holes, slots or recesses may be angled, bevelled, slopedor inclined. In a specific aspect of the present invention at least oneof the modular building elements is a corner modular building elementwhereby the corner modular building element is a L-type, T-type orX-type geometry.

In a broad form, any of the first modular building elements or socketbeams can be a substantially curved element. Furthermore, one edge ofthe first or second modular building elements may be provided with aflange, and another edge may be provided with a channel or recess. Also,the flange of one first or second modular building element may associatewith the channel or recess of an adjacent first or second modularbuilding element respectively.

According to a further aspect both edges of the first or second modularbuilding elements may be provided with channels or recesses, whereby theperiphery region of the channel or recess of a first or second modularbuilding element abuts the periphery region of the channel or recess ofan adjacent first or second modular building element respectively.

In a further embodiment of the present invention exterior modularbuilding elements are affixed to selected socket beams, first modularbuilding elements and/or second modular building elements. Gaps betweenfirst modular building elements, second modular building elements and/orsocket beams can be filled with a filling substance. In one form, thefirst modular building elements, second modular building elements,socket beams and other similar elements are manufactured from concrete,reinforced concrete or super light concrete.

In a specific embodiment the interconnection or association means mayinclude longitudinal halving, bevelled halving, tee halving, dovetailedhalving, angle halving, dovetailed cross-halving, notching, butting, arebated joint, a tongued joint, a housed joint, a dovetailed trenchedjoint, a finger joint, an angle finger joint, an angle dovetail joint, alapped dovetailed joint, a bridle joint or any similar such joint ormeans of interconnection or association. According to a further broadform, the building structure is frameless, and the building structure iscapable of being modified, dismounted, disjoined or the like.

In a further embodiment of the present invention there is sought to beprovided a toy structure formed from toy building elements, wherein thetoy structure includes:

first modular toy elements provided with protrusions for interconnectionwith at least one toy socket beam; and

second modular toy elements; and

toy socket beams provided with at least two holes, slots or recesses forreceiving protrusions from first modular toy elements, the holes, slotsor recesses located near or at the mid-section of a surface of a toysocket beam, the toy socket beams not having the same geometry as thefirst modular toy elements or the second modular toy elements; and

whereby a toy socket beam forms an interconnection with at least twofirst modular toy elements, the first modular toy elements being heldlaterally abutted to each other as a result of the mutualinterconnection of respective protrusions with holes, slots or recessesof the toy socket beam, and, at least one second modular toy elementassociates with the toy socket beam and first modular toy elementinterconnection; such that, p1 a toy socket beam and at least two firstmodular toy elements and at least one second modular toy element form atoy configuration unit, the toy configuration unit able to engage orabut other adjacent toy configuration units in a side by side fashionsuch that the second modular toy elements define a substantially planarsurface, and whereby first modular toy elements abut adjacent firstmodular toy elements, second modular toy elements abut adjacent secondmodular toy elements and a toy socket beam abuts adjacent toy socketbeams.

The modular toy elements may be used as children's play building blocksand could be manufactured from plastic, a synthetic polymeric substance,wood, or metal. Additionally, the toy structure may be a miniaturebuilding set for the making of scale models.

In a still further broad form of the present invention, there is'soughtto be provided a system of erecting a building structure including thesteps of:

forming a building structure foundation structure; and

using the building structure foundation to support a first layer ofsocket beams positioned at the desired locations; and

using the first layer of socket beams to support a first level of firstmodular building elements having socket beam interconnection means; and

using the first layer of socket beams to vertically support a firstlevel of second modular building elements; and

using the interconnection means of the first layer of socket beams andthe first level of first modular building elements to laterally hold thefirst level of second modular building elements; and

whereby a socket beam and at least two first modular building elementsand at least one second modular building element form a configurationunit, the configuration unit being repeatable one atop the other, andbeing repeatable in a side-by-side fashion, and whereby first modularbuilding elements abut adjacent first modular building elements, secondmodular building elements abut adjacent second modular building elementsand a socket beam abuts adjacent socket beams.

In a still further broad form of the present invention, there is soughtto be provided a system of erecting a building structure including thesteps of.

forming a building structure foundation structure; and

using the building structure foundation, to support a first layer ofsocket beams positioned at the desired locations; and

using the first layer of socket beams to support a first level of wallpanels having socket beam interconnection means; and

using the first layer of socket beams to vertically support a firstlevel of floor panels; and

using the interconnection means of the first layer of socket beams andthe first level of wall panels to laterally hold the first level offloor panels; and

whereby a socket beam and at least two first modular building elementsand at least one second modular building element form a configurationunit, the configuration unit being repeatable one atop the other, andbeing repeatable in a side-by-side fashion, and whereby first modularbuilding elements abut adjacent first modular building elements, secondmodular building elements abut adjacent second modular building elementsand a socket beam abuts adjacent socket beams.

It may also be provided that the first modular building elements, secondmodular building elements, socket beams and other similar elements aremanufactured on-site at the location of the building structure.

In another broad form of the invention there is provided a buildingstructure, substantially according to the embodiment described in thespecification with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanyingfigures.

In another broad form of the invention there is provided a toystructure, substantially according to the embodiment described in thespecification with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanyingfigures.

In another broad form of the invention there is provided a system oferecting a building structure, substantially according to the embodimentdescribed in the specification with reference to the accompanyingfigures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

The present invention will become more easily understood from thefollowing detailed description of a preferred but non-limitingembodiment thereof, described in connection with the accompanyingfigures, wherein:

FIG. 1(a) illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present inventionwherein, the figure shows an isometric view of disjoined modularbuilding elements.

FIG. 1(b) illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present inventionwherein, the figure shows an isometric views of a configuration unit.

FIG. 1(c) illustrates an embodiment of the present invention wherein,the figure shows configuration units with cut-out regions to show thenature of the interconnections.

FIG. 2 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present inventionwherein, the figure shows an isometric view of a portion of assembledmodular building elements.

FIG. 3(a) illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present inventionwherein, the figure shows an isometric view of disjoined modularbuilding elements having a foundation wall panel variation.

FIG. 3(b) illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present inventionwherein, the figure shows an isometric view of disjoined modularbuilding elements having a foundation ground floor panel variation.

FIG. 4(a) illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present inventionwherein, the figure shows an isometric view of a selection of wallpanels.

FIG. 4(b) illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present inventionwherein, the figure shows an isometric view of a selection of floorpanels, the floor panels shown having indeterminate length.

FIG. 4(c) illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present inventionwherein, the figure shows an isometric view of a selection of floorpanels, the floor panels shown having indeterminate length.

FIG. 4(d) illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present inventionwherein, the figure shows an isometric view of a selection of wallpanels.

FIG. 5 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present inventionwherein, the figure shows an isometric view of a further selection ofwall panels.

FIG. 6 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present inventionwherein, the figure shows an isometric view of a selection of wall panelcorner types.

FIG. 6(a) illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present inventionwherein, the figure shows an isometric view of a selection of wall panelcorner types.

FIG. 7 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present inventionwherein, the figure shows an isometric view of a further selection ofwall panel types.

FIG. 8 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present inventionwherein, the figure shows an isometric view of a selection of foundationwall panels.

FIG. 9 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present inventionwherein, the figure shows an isometric view of a selection of socketbeam variations.

FIG. 9(a) illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present inventionwherein, the figure shows an isometric view of a selection of socketbeam variations.

FIG. 10 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present inventionwherein, the figure shows an isometric view of a further selection ofsocket beam variations.

FIG. 11 illustrates an isometric view of an example building structure,the figure shows a two-storey house in disjoined fashion in groupedmodular building elements.

FIG. 12 illustrates three isometric views of an example buildingstructure, the figure shows a two-storey house in assembled fashion.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved building structure usingmodular building elements. In the figures, incorporated to illustratethe features of the present invention, like reference numerals are usedto identify like parts throughout the figures.

A preferred, but non-limiting, embodiment of the present invention isshown in FIG. 1(a). In this figure is shown an isometric view of variousdisjoined modular building elements which when associated with eachother form part of a building structure. In this non-limiting examplefirst modular building elements are represented as wall panels ofvarious types. Furthermore, second modular building elements arerepresented as floor panels of various types. Shown in this figure is awall panel 1, the wall panel 1 contains a centred protrusion 2 at oneend and further off-centre protrusions 3 at the opposite end. Disposedalong one edge of the wall panel 1 is a flange member 4 and disposedalong the opposite edge to the flange member 4 is a built in channelmember 5, as shown in FIG. 4(a). When in position adjacent wall panelsassociate such that the flange member of a first wall panel abuts thebuilt in channel member of an adjacent wall panel. However, wall panelsmay be provided without flange or channel members so that they sit flushagainst adjacent wall panels.

The centred protrusion 2 of the wall panel 1 is received by a slot 6 ina socket beam 7. The socket beam 7, as shown in the figure, is able toreceive separate wall panels similar to wall panel 1. As shown in thefigure, the separate wall panels are associated by their respectiveflange members and built in channel members. The centred protrusion of awall panel 1 may extend fully through the length of the slot 6 in thesocket beam 7, or only partially. The configuration of the socket beam 7is such that it is substantially planer on the side of the socket beamfrom which a wall panel 1 enters the slots of the socket beam,furthermore, the socket beam is substantially planer on the sideopposite thereto. The off-centre protrusions 3 located at the oppositeend to the centred protrusion 2 of the wall panel 1 associate with theoff-centre protrusions of adjacent wall panels of a type similar to wallpanel 1 such that the combination of the off-centre protrusions is of adimension which may be received by a socket beam, in this example,socket beam 8. Furthermore, a wall panel protrusion may fully extendthrough the slot of a socket beam and make contact with a wall panel ina lower or higher position in the building structure, this may providefurther stability to the building structure.

Wall panel 9 shows a variation in the geometry of a wall panel. In thisgeometry of a wall panel the protrusions at both ends of the wall panel9 are located at the edges of the wall panel, that is, both ends of thewall panel 9 contain off-centre protrusions. As before, these off-centreprotrusions associate with the off-centre protrusions of adjacent wallpanels similar to the wall panel 2 such that the combination of adjacentoff-centre protrusions is of a dimension which may be received by asocket beam. The off-centre protrusions at either end of the wall panel9 need not be similar in length or in width. In the figure, theassociated off-centre protrusions of adjacent wall panels 9 and 10associate with the socket beam 7 at one end, and with the socket beam 11at the other end, the socket beams 7 and 11 may, or may not, be of thesame type.

A variety of socket beams are shown in the figure, for example, thesocket beam 7, the socket beam 8 and the socket beam 11. In consideringthe scope of the invention the specific configuration or geometry of thesocket beams should be disregarded. The variations in the configurationof the socket beams depend upon the type of modular building elementswith which the socket beams associate. The socket beam 11 is constructedto have a flat base and flat ends so that it may be readily used inassociation with pier type foundations 12. However, this does notprevent other various types of socket beams from being interchangedwithin a building structure.

Additionally, the upper off-centre protrusions of a wall panel mayreceive the lower centred protrusions of subsequent higher wall panels,the centred protrusion extending through a socket beam slot.

Second modular building elements are represented as floor panels. Itshould be noted that in the present invention second modular buildingelements and first modular building elements may in some situations beidentical except that they have been used in a configuration that issubstantially perpendicular to each other, that is, they may be the samemodular building element.

Floor panel building elements may be provided with either a centredprotrusion, for example the floor panel 13, or with off-centreprotrusions, for example the floor panel 14. Floor panels may bedistinct elements to wall panels, or identical to such. As is shown inthe figure, floor panels may associate with adjacent floor panels byutilising a flange member on one side of a floor panel which abuts abuilt in channel member on an adjacent floor panel, similar to the casefor wall panels. As is indicated in the figure, a variety ofconfigurations of floor panels may be used, for example, the floor panel15 does not contain protrusions at either end. When assembling, themodular elements the floor panels with protrusions are positioned sothat their respective protrusions fit into an intermittent space createdby a wall panel and a socket beam. Hence, a component of the weight of afloor panel is supported by a socket beam, in addition, lateral movementof a floor panel is limited by a protrusion of a floor panel beingdisposed between a protrusion or protrusions of a wall panel. In thecase where a floor panel of the type similar to floor panel 15 is usedno protrusions from the floor panel are present, and the floor panelmerely sits above the relevant socket beam. Floor panels may equally be,described as ceiling panels, a single second modular building elementmay form both a floor panel and a ceiling panel of a lower level, orseparate second modular building elements may be used to individuallyprovide distinct floor panels and ceiling panels.

In an alternative embodiment, the side edges of floor panels may abuteach other whereby the abutting edges are both built in channel membersof the adjacent floor panels. Hence, an extended orifice will be createdalong the length of the interface between the adjacent floor panels.Furthermore, floor panels need not have any lateral side channels,recesses, flanges or the like, but may merely be substantially planerand sit flush against adjacent floor panels. Furthermore, the interfacebetween adjacent floor panels may utilise an angled planer edge or anyother type of association or join.

Indeed, the preceding paragraph equally applies to wall panels. That is,many types of association or join may be used according to the effectwhich is desired to be obtained. For example, it may be chosen to causeabutting edges of adjacent wall panels to both have built in channelmembers so that the resulting orifice extending along the length of thewall panels may be used to house various pipes or cables, for example,water pipes and/or electrical cables. Additionally, the vacant regionresulting from this type of arrangement of adjacent wall panels may beused to house a variety of other components, such as insulation or otherdevices.

Also shown in FIG. 1(a) are exterior panels, for example, the facadepanel 16 provides an exterior surface to a socket beam. However, itshould be realised that the exterior panels are optional. Also shown inthe figure is an exterior footpath floor panel 17, a footing curvedfacade panel 18 and a wall panel curved facade panels 19. Such exteriorpanels may be used to provide an exterior surface to the buildingstructure or a section of the building structure.

It should also be noted that the type of foundation should not beconsidered to be limited to a pier type of foundation, other types offoundation structures used in the building industry may also beutilised.

In a specific example, the modular building elements are manufacturedfrom concrete. The modular building elements, for example, wall panels,floor panels, socket beams and exterior panels, may be manufactured bypouring wet concrete into casting moulds. This procedure may be carriedout either on-site at the building location, or at a remote location,for example a factory, and then transported to the building location.

FIG. 1(b) illustrates a configuration unit, the configuration unitcomprised of a wall panel, a floor panel and a socket beam. The socketbeam of a configuration unit may be any of a variety of sizes. If aconfiguration unit is repeated in a side-by-side manner adjacent socketbeams will abut each other and additional wall and floor panels may beused to complete a structure. FIG. 1(c) illustrates views ofconfiguration units with cut-out regions to show how modular elementscan be connected.

FIG. 2 shows similar elements to those shown in FIG. 1 except that FIG.2 illustrates the modular elements as partially assembled. This figureillustrates part of a building structure 20 which may be extended inhorizontal and in vertical extent. The geometry of wall panels, floorpanels and socket beams is not limited to the geometries presented inthis, or any, of the figures, furthermore, the arrangement of specifictypes of wall panels, floor panels and socket beams should not beconsidered limited to that which is presented in the figures. Numerousalternate configurations may be envisaged, and readily assembled.

Illustrated in FIG. 3(a) is a variation in the configurations of thebuilding structure. In this embodiment of the invention a foundationfirst modular building element is supported by a type of socket beam,the socket beam described as a foundation support socket beam. Thefoundation first modular building element is represented in this figureas a foundation wall panel 21 which interconnects with at least onefoundation support socket beam 22, the socket beam 22 need notnecessarily be of the same type as previously mentioned socket beams,but may be an alternative type of socket beam specially constructed toassociate with the foundation wall panel, for example, if it is desiredthat the socket beam 22 withstand a substantial force. FIG. 3(a)illustrates how a building structure may be constructed using thisvariation of modular building element or modular building elements.

FIG. 3(b) shows a further embodiment of the present invention. In thefigure a foundation second modular building element associates with thebuilding structure foundation 12. In this embodiment the foundationsecond modular building element is a foundation ground floor panel 23which contains slots 24, the slots capable of receiving protrusions fromvarious types of wall panels, for example, the wall panels 25.

FIG. 4(a) illustrates various types of wall panels. The differentgeometries of wall panels may, naturally, be also used as floor panels.The choice of wall panel or floor-panel geometry will depend upon thespecific application or location in the building structure.

Also, the present invention is not limited to these geometries only,many variations on these geometries may be used.

FIG. 4(b) illustrates various types of floor panels. The floor panels asshown are indeterminate in length as indicated by the jagged break inthe illustrated floor panels. Similarly to wall panels, the presentinvention is not limited to these geometries only, many variations onthese geometries may be used.

Presented in FIG. 5 are further examples of panel geometries which maybe utilised as either wall panels or floor panels. In FIG. 5(a) themodular building element 26 is of a larger width than previouslydisclosed, also the element contains multiple protrusions at both ends.The configuration of the protrusions may be significantly varied, whatis required is that if protrusions are present then they should becapable of associating with socket beams of a corresponding geometry.FIG. 5(b) shows a further example of a modular building element 27wherein the dimensions of the element have been further extended toillustrate the variety of geometries of elements which may be utilisedto work the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a further type of modular building element which maybe used as a corner modular building element. Specifically, the cornerbuilding elements shown in FIG. 6 may be used as corner wall panels orcorner floor panels so as to create rooms or sections within a buildingstructure. FIG. 6(a) shows a L-type corner wall panel, FIG. 6(b) shows aT-type corner wall panel, FIG. 6(c) shows an alternative view of aT-type corner wall panel, FIG. 6(d) shows a X-type corner wall panel andFIG. 6(e) shows an alternative view of a X-type corner wall panel. Itshould be noted, as is the case for all herein mentioned wall and floorpanel types, that the means of association of adjacent panels is notlimited to that shown in the figures.

FIG. 7 shows further examples of wall panels in that the wall panels 28and 29 have a curved surface. The curvature of the surface may besignificantly varied depending upon the geometry of building structure,or part of building structure, required. Shown in FIG. 8 are examples ofgeometries which may be employed as foundation wall panels. Furthermore,FIG. 9 illustrates a variety of socket beams showing the wide range ofgeometries which may be employed as socket beams. FIGS. 9(a) to 9(c)illustrate a variety of toy socket beams showing the wide range ofgeometries which may be employed as toy socket beams for a toystructure.

FIG. 10 illustrates various types of socket beams which may be used forthe exterior walls of a building structure. The various socket beamsinclude alternatives to using the socket beam 7 and the exterior facadepanel 16. For example, a lateral portion of a socket beam may beprovided with an inclined edge, such as socket beam 38; a concavesurface, such as socket beam 32; a stepped surface, such as socket beam40; a curved surface in combination with a planer surface, such assocket beam 30; or various other curved surfaces of differing extent,such as socket beam 36. Furthermore, socket beams 31, 33, 37 and 41 showexamples of socket beams whereby only one side of the socket beam has acurved surface, or that the socket beam is asymmetric. Socket beams 34,35 and 39 additionally illustrate further examples of socket beamconfigurations. It should be noted that these socket beams do notillustrate an exhaustive list of all forms of socket beams which may beutilised to form part of a building structure as herein described.

The modular building elements may be formed from reinforced concrete orsuper light concrete and configured into a building structure withoutany additional wet or welding joints, fasteners or accessories. Therehas been provided in accordance with the present invention, a buildingstructure which utilises two basic; components, panels and socket beamswhereby certain panels associate rigidly with socket beams.

The building structure hereinbefore described thus provides a structurewhich is frameless, capable of withstanding a degree of earthquake anddurable over many years. Also, a relatively small number of relativelyunqualified labourers is required to erect the structure.

Furthermore, the building structure may be modified after it has beenerected. Additional building elements may be added to an existingbuilding structure. Also, a building structure utilising the buildingelements may be dismantled by disjoining the building elements at anygiven time.

Dimensions of the building elements hereinbefore described can varysubstantially. As an indicative non-limiting example only, the wallpanel 1 may have the dimensions of height 1000 mm to 5000 mm, width 100mm to 2000 mm, and thickness of 30 mm to 500 mm. Obviously, these numbers are provided as an indication only and do not limit the scope ofdimensions which may be used.

If building elements are manufactured at the building site then the costof erecting a building structure may be significantly lowered.Furthermore, relatively simple equipment is all th at is required, forex ample, a working table and a forklift. The system of manufacture mayalso be palletised to a id subsequent erection of a building structureby a crane.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the modular buildingelements may be used as children's play building blocks or a miniaturebuilding set for constructing scale models. The dimensions of themodular toy elements may be significantly reduced so that they may behandled by people, specifically children. The modular toy elements, thatis the first modular toy element, the second modular toy element and thetoy socket beam, may be manufactured from, for example, plastic,synthetic polymeric substance, wood, metal or the like, and may beconnected together in the manner hereinbefore described so that varioustoy structures may be built by a child. Similar to the discussion for areal building structure, the modular toy elements can be used to definea toy configuration unit which can be repeated to form a toy structure.As a toy structure does not require consideration of real forcesassociated with load bearing and mechanical stresses the modular toyelements can be built from a wider variety of shapes.

Thus, there has been provided in accordance with the present invention,a building structure using modular building elements which satisfies theadvantages set forth above.

Although the preferred embodiment has been described in detail, itshould be understood that various changes, substitutions, andalterations can be made herein by one of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A building structure formed from modular buildingelements, wherein the building structure includes: first modularbuilding elements having prefabricated protrusions of a same material asa remainder of said first modular building elements, said prefabricatedprotrusions for interconnection with at least one socket beam; andsecond modular building elements; and socket beams each having asubstantially upside down U-shaped profile, at least one hole and a slotor recess for receiving respective ones of said prefabricatedprotrusions of said first modular building elements, said at least onehole being laterally centered in said socket beams and said slot orrecess being located longitudinally under an upper surface of saidrespective one of said socket beams, whereby a each of said socket beamsforms an interconnection with at least one of said first modularbuilding elements and at least one of said second modular buildingelements, such that, a one of said socket beams, at least one of saidfirst modular building elements and at least one of said second modularbuilding elements form a configuration unit, the configuration unit forengaging or abutting adjacent configuration units in a side by sidefashion such that adjacent ones of the second modular building elementsdefine a substantially planar surface, and whereby each of said firstmodular building elements abuts adjacent ones of said first modularbuilding elements, each of said second modular building elements abutsadjacent ones of said second modular building elements and each of saidsocket beams abuts adjacent ones of said socket beams.
 2. A buildingstructure as claimed in claim 1, wherein a within said configurationunit, said at least one second modular building element has at least oneedge supported by a portion of said one of said socket beams.
 3. Abuilding structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the configuration unitengages or abuts other adjacent configuration units in a one atop theother fashion to provide a multi-storey building structure beingfinished at a top thereof by a top one of said socket beams and a topone of said second modular building elements included in one of saidconfiguration units, said top one of said second modular buildingelements being substantially identical to others of said second modularbuilding elements and said top one of said socket beams beingsubstantially identical to others of said socket beams.
 4. A buildingstructure as claimed in claim 1, wherein a foundation structure isprovided and at least one of the first modular building elements, secondmodular building elements and socket beams associates with thefoundation structure.
 5. A building structure as claimed in claim 4,wherein a foundation support socket beam associates with the foundationstructure, the foundation support socket beam being interconnected witha foundation first modular building element, and at least one of saidsocket beams being interconnected with the foundation first modularbuilding element.
 6. A building structure as claimed in claim 4, whereina foundation second modular building element associates with thefoundation structure, the foundation second modular building elementreceiving at least one first modular building element.
 7. A buildingstructure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said a first modular buildingelements are wall panels and a said second modular building elements arefloor panels or ceiling panels.
 8. A building structure as claimed inclaim 1, wherein at least one edge of a one of said first modularbuilding elements has an off-center one of said protrusions, and anadjacent one of said first modular building elements also has anoff-center one of said protrusions on at least one edge so that theoff-center protrusions abut and form a combined protrusion, saidcombined protrusion being received in one of said at least one hole andsaid slot or recess in one of said socket beams.
 9. A building structureas claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one edge of a one of said secondmodular building elements has at least one of said protrusions wherebyan angled joint is formed by the at least one of said protrusions of theone of said second modular building elements and a one of saidprotrusions of one of said first modular building elements, the one ofsaid protrusions of the one of said second modular building elementsbeing intermediate the one of said first modular building elements and arespective one of the socket beams.
 10. A building structure as claimedin claim 9, wherein an angle of the angled joint is substantiallyperpendicular.
 11. A building structure as claimed in claim 1, whereinat least one of the first modular building elements is a corner modularbuilding element whereby the corner modular building element has anL-type, T-type or X-type geometry.
 12. A building structure as claimedin claim 1, wherein any at least one of the first modular buildingelements and at least one of the socket beams is curved.
 13. A buildingstructure as claimed in claim 1, wherein one edge of each of the firstmodular building elements or each of the second modular buildingelements has a flange, and an opposing edge has a channel or recess. 14.A building structure as claimed in claim 13, wherein, each flange of thefirst or second modular building elements associates with the channel orrecess of an adjacent one of the first or second modular buildingelements.
 15. A building structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein eachedge of each of the first modular building elements or each of thesecond modular building elements has an edge channel or edge recess,whereby a periphery region of the edge channel or edge recess of one ofsaid modular building elements abuts a periphery region of the edgechannel or edge recess of an adjacent one of the modular buildingelements.
 16. A building structure as claimed in claim 1, whereinexterior modular building elements are affixed to selected ones of thesocket beams, first modular building elements and second modularbuilding elements.
 17. A building structure as claimed in claim 1,wherein thin, maximum 5 mm connection gaps between the first modularbuilding elements, the second modular building elements and the socketbeams are filled with a sealant.
 18. A building structure as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the first modular building elements, second modularbuilding elements and socket beams are manufactured from any one ofconcrete, reinforced concrete, super light concrete, compositematerials, fibre concrete, and any combination thereof.
 19. A buildingstructure as claimed in claims 1, wherein the building structure isframeless.
 20. A building structure as claimed claim 1, wherein thefirst modular building elements, second modular building elements andsocket beams are detachable from each other.
 21. A building structure asclaimed in claim 1, wherein each said at least one hole is provided onan upper surface of a respective one of the socket beams and each saidslot or recess is laterally centered on a lower surface of a respectiveone of the socket beams, each said at least one hole for receiving oneof said protrusions from at least one of said first modular buildingelements, and each said slot or recess receiving one of said protrusionsfrom a lower, adjacent one of said first modular building elements. 22.A toy structure formed from toy building elements, wherein the toystructure includes: first modular toy elements having protrusions forinterconnection with at least one toy socket beam; and second modulartoy elements; and toy socket beams each having a substantially upsidedown U-shaped profile, at least one hole and longitudinal slot or recessfor receiving respective ones of said protrusions of said first modulartoy elements, the toy socket beams having a different geometry than thefirst modular toy elements and the second modular toy elements, wherebyeach of the toy socket beams forms an interconnection with at least oneof said first modular toy elements and at least one of said secondmodular toy elements; such that, one of said toy socket beams, at leastone of said first modular toy elements and at least one of said secondmodular toy elements form a configuration unit, the configuration unitfor engaging or abutting adjacent configuration units in a side by sidefashion such that adjacent ones of the second modular toy elementsdefine a substantially planar surface, and whereby each of said firstmodular toy elements abuts adjacent ones of said first modular toyelements, each of said second modular toy elements abuts adjacent onesof said second modular toy elements and a each of the toy socket beamsabuts adjacent ones of said toy socket beams.
 23. A toy structure asclaimed in claim 22, wherein the modular toy elements are toy buildingblocks and are manufactured from plastic, a suitable synthetic polymericsubstance, wood, or metal.
 24. A toy structure as claimed in claim 22,wherein the toy structure is a miniature building.
 25. A system oferecting a building structure including the steps of: forming a buildingstructure foundation; and using the building structure foundation tosupport a first layer of socket beams positioned at desired locations;and using the first layer of socket beams to vertically support a firstlevel of second modular building elements; and using the first layer ofsocket beams to support a first level of first modular buildingelements, said socket beams receiving protrusions from said firstmodular building elements as interconnection means; and using holes ofthe first layer of socket beams and the protrusions of the first levelof first modular building elements to laterally hold the first level ofsecond modular building elements, and whereby the first layer of socketbeams, the first level of second modular building elements and the firstlevel of first modular building elements form a typical configurationlevel of said building structure, the typical configuration level ofsaid building structure being repeatable one atop the other to provide amulti-storey building structure, said multi-storey building structurebeing finished at the top by an extra layer of said socket beams and anextra level of said second modular building elements.
 26. A system oferecting a building structure as claimed in claim 23, wherein the firstmodular building elements, second modular building elements and socketbeams are manufactured on-site at a location of the building structure.